Therapy for Colombian Immigrants in New York

The weight of two worlds

You're not sad exactly. It's more complicated than that. You miss your abuela's kitchen on Sunday, the specific way light hits the street where you grew up, conversations that moved slower and meant more. Your family back home sees your New York life on Instagram and thinks you're thriving. But at night, alone in your apartment, you feel the distance like a physical thing. The city is faster, colder, more efficient. Nothing here feels accidental or leisurely. And you're supposed to be grateful, right? You came here for opportunity. So why does it sometimes feel like you left your soul behind?

There's also the practical weight. Finding work where your education translates. Learning unspoken rules at your job that nobody explains but everyone seems to know. Navigating a healthcare system that assumes things about how you think, what you eat, what matters to you. Managing money differently. Maybe sending it back home. Watching your kids—if you have them—grow up American in a way that breaks your heart a little, even as you want this for them. The loneliness isn't always obvious. You're surrounded by people. But it's a particular kind of loneliness that comes from being between cultures, fully at home in neither.

I realized I wasn't depressed—I was grieving. And nobody around me understood that grief was actually love.

New York has a massive Colombian community. You see yourself everywhere—in the bodegas, the restaurants, the music spilling from cars. And yet you might feel more isolated than ever, comparing your struggle to others' apparent success, wondering if you're the only one who feels this way. The thing is, you're not. What you're feeling is real, valid, and shared by thousands of people in this city going through exactly what you're going through.

Why this matters, and why therapy actually helps

Immigration isn't just a logistical challenge. It's a grief process. You've experienced loss—of place, routine, the person you were in that place, certain relationships, a sense of belonging that felt effortless. Our culture teaches us to push forward, to be strong, to focus on gratitude. But grief doesn't disappear because you're grateful. It sits in your chest. And when it's not processed, it shows up as anxiety, disconnection, anger you don't expect, or a numbness that worries you more than sadness would.

Therapy gives you a space—maybe the first space—where you don't have to explain yourself or prove you're doing okay. A therapist who understands immigration, cultural identity, and the specific experience of New Yorkers can help you integrate these two parts of yourself instead of living in the tension between them. You can grieve what you left behind without minimizing what you've built. You can feel proud of your resilience and still acknowledge how hard this is. That's not weakness. That's wisdom.

What helps

Therapy helps Colombian immigrants in New York process acculturation stress, grief, and identity shifts in a way that honors both worlds. Research shows that culturally informed therapy reduces isolation, clarifies values, and actually strengthens your ability to build a meaningful life here—without erasing who you were there.

What actually helps — and how to access it

BetterHelp has over 30,000 licensed therapists available by text, phone, or video. No commute. No waiting list. A session from your home, your car, or your lunch break — whenever works for you.

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Weekly pricing

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20% off your first month

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You're not the only one who felt this way

When I first called, I thought I was broken. I had a good job, friends, but I couldn't stop crying on the subway. My therapist asked me about home—really asked—and something shifted. We talked about my abuela, what I missed, what I was building here. For the first time, I didn't feel like I had to choose. By month three, I wasn't crying on the subway. I was texting my mom longer messages. I joined a group. I started cooking her recipes again. I'm not the same person who left Bogotá. I'm not trying to be. I'm becoming someone new, and I'm okay with that now.

Marcela, 34

Started therapy after her first year in New York

Questions people ask before starting

Will my therapist understand what I'm going through if they're not Colombian?

Good therapists are trained to honor different cultures and listen without judgment. That said, BetterHelp lets you choose therapists who specialize in immigration experiences and cultural identity. Many have lived immigrant experiences themselves. You can always switch if the fit isn't right.

I'm worried people back home will think therapy means I'm weak or ungrateful.

Therapy isn't about rejecting your culture or your gratitude. It's about taking care of yourself so you can show up fully in your own life. Strength isn't about suffering in silence—it's about knowing when to ask for help. Your mental health is your business.

How much does it cost, and is it worth it?

Most BetterHelp therapists are $60–90 per week for unlimited messaging and live sessions. We offer 20% off your first month. Many people find that the clarity and relief they get in the first few weeks—better sleep, less isolation, clearer thinking—pays for itself immediately.

I'm not sure therapy will actually change anything. I'll still be far from home.

Therapy doesn't move you closer to Bogotá. But it does change your relationship to the distance. People who work through immigration grief often find they feel more grounded, connected to themselves, and actually better able to build community and meaning here. That changes everything.

What if I get a therapist I don't click with?

You can switch therapists anytime, for any reason—no penalty, no awkwardness. Finding the right fit matters. BetterHelp makes it easy to try someone new if the first match isn't working.

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 immediately — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish. BetterHelp is not a crisis service.

The first step is the hardest one

Five minutes to get matched. Licensed therapist. Confidential. 20% off your first month.